Latvia in January

Cold and dark; cheap Riga city breaks, opera season.

January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatGreen and bright; 4 May holiday; good month for Riga and Gauja.
• JuneGreatLongest days; Līgo 23–24 June closes much of the country — spend it in the countryside or plan around it.
• JulyGreatPeak beach and festival month (Positivus-type festivals return some years — check).
• AugustGreatWarm; Riga City Festival; seaside busy.

• Riga and the Gulf coast · Riga, Jūrmala, Saulkrasticool

  Winter around −3 °C (27 °F), damp and grey; summer 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) and bright until 23:00 in June.Winter around −3 °C (27 °F), damp and grey; summer 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) and bright until 11:00 PM in June.Winter around 27 °F (−3 °C), damp and grey; summer 68–75 °F (20–24 °C) and bright until 23:00 in June.Winter around 27 °F (−3 °C), damp and grey; summer 68–75 °F (20–24 °C) and bright until 11:00 PM in June.

• Kurzeme and the open Baltic · Liepāja, Ventspils, Kuldīga, Cape Kolkacool

  Windy, milder winters, cooler late springs; beaches warm up only from late June.

• Inland east (Vidzeme, Latgale) · Sigulda, Cēsis, Daugavpils, Rēzeknecool

  Colder, snowier winters and warmer summers; Gauja valley autumn colours peak late Sept – early Oct.

• Kurzeme: Kurzeme coast · Liepāja to Cape Kolkacold

  Sea wind keeps the coast cooler than inland in summer; July–August is the only reliably warm window. Winter is dark and wet, with short daylight.

• Latgale: Latgale · Eastern Latvia, lake districtcold

  Short warm season June–August; lakes warm enough to swim mid-summer. Winters are colder and snowier than the coast.

• Vidzeme: Gauja valley (Cēsis, Sigulda, Valmiera) · central Vidzemecold

  May–September is the walking season; July and August are warmest, around 22 °C (72 °F) by day. Winter brings snow and cross-country skiing.May–September is the walking season; July and August are warmest, around 72 °F (22 °C) by day. Winter brings snow and cross-country skiing.

• Vidzeme: Eastern hills (Madona, Alūksne, Gulbene) · east Vidzemecold

  Colder and snowier than the coast; Gaiziņkalns and the Madona ski slopes depend on a real winter.

• Zemgale: Zemgale plain · Jelgava, Bauska, Rundālecold

  Continental and flat: cold, snowy winters; warm, sometimes wet summers. May–September is the window for the palace gardens and park trails.

• Riga0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 16 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 16 rain days
• Alūksne0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Bauska0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 10 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 10 rain days
• Cēsis-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 12 rain days
• Daugavpils-2 °C (28 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 12 rain days
• Gulbene-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 8 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 8 rain days
• Jēkabpils-2 °C (28 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 10 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 10 rain days
• Jelgava-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 12 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 12 rain days
• Jūrmala-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 13 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 13 rain days
• Kuldīga-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 12 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 12 rain days
• Liepāja0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 12 rain days
• Ligatne0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Limbaži-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 12 rain days
• Madona-2 °C (28 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 12 rain days
• Rēzekne0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 5 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 5 rain days
• Salaspils-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 7 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 7 rain days
• Seda0 °C (32 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 0 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 0 rain days
• Sigulda-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 12 rain days
• Smiltene0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 7 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 7 rain days
• Straupe0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 10 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 10 rain days
• Strenči0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 10 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 10 rain days
• Tukums-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 12 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 12 rain days
• Valka-2 °C (28 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 12 rain days
• Valmiera0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Ventspils0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 12 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Quiet morning; offices closed.

• Christmas and New Year

  Dec 25–26 and Jan 1 · Riga

  Many restaurants and museums close; transport reduced.

Crowds · Latvia

Low

Prices · Latvia

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Latvia, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Madona

  Best months: Jun–Sep for lakes, trails and cycling; Jan–Feb for cross-country skiing and biathlon